Page 140 of Restitution

He slams the door shut behind him, and maybe it’s because we’re all fucked up, but we burst out laughing until our sides hurt.

Dez nearly chokes on his smoke, and I drop my phone on the floor. “He’s fucking scary,” Base says through his sniggering. “He kicked me in the balls while we were sparring. He could have messed up my baby makers!”

“Do you want kids?” I ask, grabbing on to the subject.

“Fuck, no. No offence, because I know you two do, but I couldn’t think of anything worse.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. I nearly open my mouth to tell him he’s knocked my sister up, but I refrain. It’s Luciella’s place to talk to him about it, and I think she’s going to be even more heartbroken.

Dez rolls a joint and lights it. “I haven’t said this before, but I’m sorry about what happened to you two.” He blows smoke between us and hands it to me. “I wish I knew and could have at least tried to help. I didn’t see the pictures and videos, but I heard…”

Base is staring at his screen, his brows furrowing. But then he looks up, hums and I already know his dark humour is about to make an appearance, especially with how stoned he is. It’s his way of deflecting.

“I bet Kade takes a blowjob better than you do.”

I drop my head. “Fucking hell.”

Base grins at me. “Don’t deny it. You came in my mouth. You know I’m good. Tell him!”

Instead of slamming my fist into his face, maybe because I’m baked, I let out a laugh and nearly choke on the smoke again. My friends join in, and when I stub out the roach and stand, I yawn.

“I’m going to see my girl and go to sleep. Dez, I suggest you let Base blow you so you have an idea. I won’t tell anyone. And, Base, you need to speak to my sister pronto.”

Base stands too. “She asked to see me actually. Said it was urgent. I’ll walk with you.”

But before we can leave, there’s a loud explosion outside that rocks the pool house, smashing in the windows and knocking us off our feet. The ground shakes, and the eruption in my ears has me wincing as things fall to the floor all around us, and alarms begin to sound as people shout orders.

Windows smash outside as another explosion goes off.

Stacey.

I rush to my feet and out of the pool house with my two friends behind me, warm liquid trickling down the side of my head. I must’ve been hit by something.

My heart sinks as I come to a halt, every drop of blood leaving my face as I stare at my side of the manor – obliterated and up in flames. My balcony is gone, and the entire top floor is non-existent.

No. No, no, no, fuckingno. Stacey and Luciella were in my room. And it’s gone.

“Fuck!” I yell and run towards the flames without giving it a second thought, but the ceiling of the entrance collapses and Istumble back, my eyes wide. I count to three in my head then run towards it with one end goal.

My skin heats from the flames nearly licking my body, my ears sensitive from the detonations. My friends are behind me, and we’re forcing aside downed ceiling beams to get inside, covering our mouths with the collars of our shirts as we push through.

The fucking war is starting, but all I can focus on is sprinting through the burning manor, trying not to breathe in the toxic fumes to find my girlfriend and pregnant sister.

41

STACEY

My eyes ping open as a scream hits my ringing ears, everywhere hurting as I try to move and fail.

Confused and dazed, flat on my back, I will myself to stay awake. My head is aching from something dropping on me. I try to keep my eyes open in the darkness licked by flames, but they burn, just like my lungs do as I drag in erratic breaths.

A sharp pain in my legs has me wincing as I try to move, blinking as I cough on the thick smoke filling the corridor at the bottom of Kade’s spiral staircase.

I tuck my chin in to see the glow of the fire on the wooden beam trapping my legs.

“Stacey…” The soft voice comes from my left,and I look over to see my best friend pushing herself to her feet.

Luciella looks at me, distraught, her face bleeding, her top ripped to shreds. One of her shoes is missing. She cradles herself, pressing her palm to where her baby is growing in her womb.